Cape Blanco storms home for Seamus Heffernan in Irish Champion Stakes

Aidan O'Brien's attempt to complete a Group One treble in less than 70 minutes came up just short today, but while his authority could not extend to Haydock's Sprint Cup, his dominance here was all but absolute. O'Brien saddled four of the first five winners on the most important afternoon of Leopardstown's season, including a 1-2 with Cape Blanco and Rip Van Winkle in the Irish Champion Stakes, and the only disappointment for his followers in the day's feature race was that the forecast was in the "wrong" order. Rip Van Winkle, the winner of the International Stakes at York last month, was the 8-11 favourite for the Champion, while Cape Blanco, O'Brien's Irish Derby winner, was sent off at 6-1. In the early stages, as Seamus Heffernan set a solid gallop on Cape Blanco, it seemed that he might set the race up for his stable companion, but even an operation with Ballydoyle's wealth of riches does not waste a Derby winner in a pacemaking role. Heffernan judged the tempo to perfection, and got Cape Blanco running with such a powerful rhythm that it was clear from two furlongs out that it would take an immense effort to pass him. Another kick on the home turn was the final act, and though Rip Van Winkle quickened from the rear to short-head Twice Over for second, he was still five and a half lengths away from the winner. Cape Blanco beat Workforce, the Derby winner, in the Dante at York in May, and finished a distant second to Harbinger in the King George last time out, so there is little reason to doubt the form. He now seems more likely to run in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket next month rather than the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, in which O'Brien already has the ante-post favourite, Fame And Glory. "Seamus gave him a great ride," O'Brien said. "We've always thought this horse wanted a mile and a quarter and nice ground. He showed a lot of speed, class and determination, and he got into that great rhythm. He probably gets a mile and a half because his class makes him get it, rather than being a mile and a half horse. It was his courage that got him home at The Curragh. The lads will talk about everything now, he's got races like the Champion and America, there's a lot of possibilities. "We were delighted with Rip Van Winkle. The ground is on the soft side now, and if we'd had that at declaration time, we wouldn't have been here with him. He has speed and he's a real miler." O'Brien took his first Group One of the afternoon in the Matron Stakes here, as Lillie Langtry – at 7-2, the longest price of his major contenders for the day's main events – beat Spacious by a neck. She had a couple of lengths to find on the runner-up turning into the short home straight, but while the final margin was small, Lillie Langtry's attitude was admirable, and there was never much doubt from a furlong out that Murtagh would get her home. O'Brien is inclined to send the winner to the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Arc day, while she is also likely to form part of Ballydoyle's contingent for the Breeders' Cup in Kentucky in early November. Last year, she finished eighth when favourite for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf, and either the Mile or the Filly & Mare Turf would appear to be a realistic target. "She was just ready to start back today," O'Brien said, "and Johnny gave her a masterful ride. He only really asked her to race for furlong and a half, so he gave her a peach. She was brave and determined, and she's always been a very classy filly. We'll look forward to her now for the rest of the year." The Group One race that escaped Ballydoyle's grasp was the Sprint Cup at Haydock, where O'Brien's Starspangledbanner, a dual winner at the top level this season, faded abruptly after setting a strong pace and finished only fifth behind Henry Candy's gelding Markab. The winner may now head for the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp next month. "He's a seven-year-old and has got a lot of miles on the clock," Candy said. "He started running in 80-rated handicaps over seven furlongs at Lingfield and it is incredible how he has progressed since." Paco Boy appears to have a straightforward task in the Group One Prix du Moulin at Longchamp tomorrow afternoon, in which he seems sure to start favourite with both Goldikova and Makfi heading elsewhere. Lope De Vega (2.43) could still be a significant obstacle, however. André Fabre's colt looked outstanding when winning both the French 2,000 Guineas over tomorrow's track and trip and the French Derby over 10 furlongs, and though he ran poorly last time, when he failed to beat even his pacemaker in the Prix Jean Prat, his earlier form gives him a outstanding chance.